256 Thirty Tears 



upon our socks and shoes to prevent them from freez- 

 ing. This plan was afterwards adopted throughout 

 the journey. 



At half-past five in the morning we proceeded ; and 

 after walking about two miles, came to Cracroft's Eiv- 

 er, flowing to the westward, with a very rapid current 

 over a rocky channel. We had much difficulty in 

 crossing this, the canoe being useless, not only from 

 the bottom of the channel being obstructed by large 

 stones, but also from its requiring gumming, n *> opera- 

 tion which, owing to the want of wood and the irost, 

 we were unable to perform. However, after following 

 the course of the river some way, we effected a pass- 

 age by means of a range of large rocks that crossed a 

 rapid. As the current was strong, and many of the 

 rocks were covered with water to the depth of two or 

 three feet, the men were exposed to much danger in 

 carrying their heavy burdens across, and several of 

 them actually slipped into the stream, but were im- 

 mediately rescued by the others. Junius went farther 

 up the river in search of a better crossing place, and 

 did not rejoin us to-day. As several of the [tarty were 

 drenched from head to (not, and we wire all wet to 

 the middle, our clothes became stiffs ith the frost, and 

 we walked with much pain lor the remainder of the 

 day. The march was continued to a late hour, being 



anxious to rejoin the hunters who had gone before, hut 



